Engine Noise

[viggen]

Hi All

There is a noise from the motor that has been bugging me for a while. It seems to come and go but that might also be because I use earplugs all the time now (after nearly a year on the bike, my ears seems to have taken a beating and I've had this constant buzzing for about a month now, super annoying :roll eyes:.

Anycase, so I stopped at home this afternoon and thought I would record the engine and see if anything sounds funny ... and it does, to me ... and not in the ha ha way ... https://youtu.be/eTgDFqaVncM

What do you guys think?

Work seems to keep me just busy enough not to get "tinkering", wish I was busy enough to not notice noises and stuff too ... maybe I am a Honda type of guy

Ciao

[BikerMiker]

Sounds like a BMW boxer.

If you are talking about the tapping, it doesn't sound terrible from my computer. I've heard worse recorded through a shytty phone mic, compressed on the internet played through laptop speakers...

Someone "hear" mentioned this before and I agree, that phone mics will pick up some sounds better than others. Ever been on a call with someone while they were inside a car with GPS talking in the background? It picks that GPS voice better than a humans.

[bradzdotcom]

when mine starts tapping like that i give it a couple mouthfuls of oil.
works most times.

[lisc]

Doesn't sound normal. That tinny rattle is not right. You blip the throttle too quickly for me to be able to tell if the sound is half engine speed i.e. Valve train or something else. It would be more helpful to have a sound file more gradual. 2000 rpm 3000 rpm for a few seconds each.

[brentw1]

probably in the valve train,
check the end float on the rockers,
also the push rods can separate at the ends and make the noise.

could also be chains or chain guides, tensioners etc.

or heaven forbid a loose exhaust you really need to isolate where it is coming from

[hellfishtat]

Originally Posted by viggen

Hi All

...my ears seems to have taken a beating and I've had this constant buzzing for about a month now, super annoying :roll eyes:.

I had to tinnitus several years ago. Don't laugh, but I went and had acupuncture and took some herbs not the good kind and it went away

[Mitch1100]

Check exhaust bracket under back of seat

[wiggledbits]

Originally Posted by hellfishtat

I had to tinnitus several years ago. Don't laugh, but I went and had acupuncture and took some herbs not the good kind and it went away

Sorry for the highjack...
Really? How bad did you have it. I worked in loud environments years ago not to mention lots and lots of rock concerts so I have it bad. Consent high pitched ringing.

[hellfishtat]

Originally Posted by wiggledbits

Sorry for the highjack...
Really? How bad did you have it. I worked in loud environments years ago not to mention lots and lots of rock concerts so I have it bad. Consent high pitched ringing.

I went to a show 3 months prior to the start of the ringing. It was something they do here called the "Great Cover Up". Local musicians get together over 3 nights and cover some of their favorite bands. The night I went, the first group did an amazing job of Patty Smith. The next band did a strong 40 minute set of Sepultura. they were awesome, but my ears rang for two days after. I knew I had messed up not bringing my ear plugs, so I went home without seeing the next band.


The night is started, it was LOUD! Keep you awake loud. white noise generator didn't help. Constantly asking people to repeat themselves.

I went to a audiologist and they tested me and said I had high drops (Meniere's disease) and tinnitus.

The first doctor said there was nothing I could do, screw that.

The next doctor was a young kid. He told me he had been in California and they were experimenting with steroid shots through your ear drum into your middle ear where some would enter inner ear through the window (opening) in your cochlea. The rest would drain down your Eustachian tube. He made a good case, but one of the side affects is permanent 100% hearing loss in that ear.

I wasn't ready to make that decision so I thought about what my sister would tell me to do. Exhaust all other possibilities. I changed my diet; low sodium, no coffee, less alcohol, more exercise and I went to an acupuncture. they gave me some herbs (I don't remember what they were). In a few months, and about $750 in treatments it was gone.

I admit it could have gone away on it's own, and it could come back. I will say this, the night that I realized it was gone was one of the best feelings in my life.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by bradzdotcom

when mine starts tapping like that i give it a couple mouthfuls of oil.
works most times.

me too...no kidding.

[bradzdotcom]

thanx flatty.
i was beginning to think i was alone on this one.

[viggen]

Well I have some good news and some bad news ...

So I took the valve covers off and removed the rocker arms and carrier. Well there was nothing wrong and the pushrods actually looked like they were one solid piece (I couldn't see any "joins"). Anycase, so I put everything back together redid the valve and carrier gaps and closed everything up and hey presto it's all quiet again. Now I did check the valve clearances before dismantling and I do not recall any issues. Is it just messing with me? I know they say the S has character, just didn't know they came in a "bad attitude" flavour :roll eyes:

Edit: Oh and the exhaust is nice and tight from front to back

Yeah this ringing ear thing is rather annoying. I downloaded a tone generator app on my phone just to play around with and see if I could identify the frequency of the ringing, turns out I can't hear anything above 10KHz unless I stick the phone next to my ear ... maybe I should start looking for an place that does acupuncture.

Now for the bad news ... on to my other thread (starting issues) ...

[wiggledbits]

I'm watch both threads...
I know my hearing is shot and will only continue down hill as it is inherited from both M&F and most times the ringing is there but I have grown used to it. It is constant white noise. Losing all hearing in any ear as treatment to cure my poor hearing is not an option.

[viggen]

The noise didn't stay away for long

It's definitely not as pronounced as before and only seems audible at idle to 1800rpm (with my buzzy ears and Van Der Linde exhaust, not sure if that means anything).

Could it be timing chain and/or tensioner? Any easy way to tell? Although that wouldn't explain why it was quite for a bit after opening up the heads and then putting everything back.

[maverickma]

Sounds like a fine running, oil cooled, BMW boxer motor. There might be some slop on one or both of the throttle cable valves which will cause some clatter at idle. I think there is a bearing in each that can wear out. Start the bike, and look behind either intake for a disc thingy with a throttle cable running through it...either side doesn't matter, there is one on each side. It's there, stop being lazy and look. While the bike is running put some pressure on one of the valves with your finger see if the clatter lessens. Then stop worrying and ride the f'ing thing.